Victoria Cross for Australia

For other uses, see Victoria Cross (disambiguation).

Victoria Cross for Australia
Crimson ribbon with a miniature VC in the middle
Obverse of the medal and ribbon. Ribbon: 32 mm, crimson
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded for"[T]he most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy."[1]
DescriptionBronze cross pattée with crown and lion superimposed, and motto: 'For Valour'
Presented byGovernor-General of Australia
EligibilityAustralian military personnel and other persons approved by the minister of Defence
Post-nominalsVC
StatusCurrently awarded
Established15 January 1991
First awarded16 January 2009
Last awarded11 November 2024
FounderElizabeth II on the advice of Bob Hawke, Prime Minister
Total6
Total awarded posthumously3
Total recipients6
Order of Wear
Next (higher)none
EquivalentVictoria Cross
Next (lower)George Cross, Cross of Valour[2]

The Victoria Cross for Australia is the highest award in the Australian honours system, superseding the British Victoria Cross for issue to Australians. The Victoria Cross for Australia is the "decoration for according recognition to persons who in the presence of the enemy, perform acts of the most conspicuous gallantry, or daring or pre-eminent acts of valour or self-sacrifice or display extreme devotion to duty".[1]

The Victoria Cross for Australia was created by letters patent signed by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on 15 January 1991 on the advice of Prime Minister Bob Hawke. It is listed equal first with the British Victoria Cross on the Australian Order of Wear with precedence in Australia over all orders, decorations and medals.[3] The decoration may be awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and to other persons determined by the Australian Minister for Defence.[4] A person to whom the Victoria Cross for Australia has been awarded is entitled to the post nominals VC placed after the person's name.[5]

The Governor-General of Australia awards the Victoria Cross for Australia, with the approval of the Sovereign, on the recommendation of the Minister for Defence, subject to review by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal. As at February 2021, five Victoria Cross for Australia had been awarded, two posthumously. The first was awarded on 16 January 2009 to Trooper Mark Donaldson, who had rescued an International Security Assistance Force interpreter under heavy fire in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan. Donaldson's award came almost 40 years after Warrant Officer Keith Payne became the last Australian to be awarded the (original) Victoria Cross for gallantry on 24 May 1969 during the Vietnam War. Unlike the original Victoria Cross where the announcement of the award may be followed some time later by the presentation of the award, the announcement of all awards of the Australian VC have occurred on the same occasion as the presentation by the Governor-General in the presence of the Prime Minister. Both VC for Australia and original Victoria Cross recipients are entitled to the Victoria Cross allowance under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.[6]

  1. ^ a b "Victoria Cross Regulations". Federal Register of Legislation. Commonwealth Gazette No. S25 of 1991. 4 February 1991.
  2. ^ "The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards (Modified)" (PDF). DHAM, volume 1. Annex A to Chapter 4. Australian Government, Department of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  3. ^ The order of wearing Australian honours and awards Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Commonwealth Gazette No. S192, 28 September 2007, p. 1.
  4. ^ Victoria Cross Regulations, Commonwealth Gazette No. S25, 4 February 1991, p. 2, Regulation 5.
  5. ^ Victoria Cross Regulations, Commonwealth Gazette No. S25, 4 February 1991, p. 2, Regulation 8.
  6. ^ Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) s 103